Exterior trim for a motor vehicle

Abstract

An exterior trim for a motor vehicle includes an exterior trim part having a central shape-retaining subcomponent and a first elastic subcomponent connected on a first side of the central shape-retaining subcomponent and a second elastic subcomponent connected on a second side of the central shape-retaining subcomponent. The central shape-retaining subcomponent is adjustable from a first position into a second position and the first elastic subcomponent and a first trim surface of the first elastic subcomponent and the second elastic subcomponent a second trim surface of the second elastic subcomponent are adjustable.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exterior trim for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 an exterior trim part ( 10 ) having a central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ); and   a first elastic subcomponent ( 18 ) connected on a first side of the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ) and a second elastic subcomponent ( 20 ) connected on a second side of the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 );   wherein the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ) is adjustable from a first position (A) into a second position (W) and wherein the first elastic subcomponent ( 18 ) and a first trim surface ( 26 ) of the first elastic subcomponent ( 18 ) and the second elastic subcomponent ( 20 ) and a second trim surface ( 26 ) of the second elastic subcomponent ( 20 ) are adjustable.   
     
     
         2 . The exterior trim according to  claim 1 , wherein the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ) is integrally connected with the first elastic subcomponent ( 18 ) and the second elastic subcomponent ( 20 ). 
     
     
         3 . The exterior trim according to  claim 1 , wherein the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ) is manufactured from a shape-retaining, non-reversibly elastic plastic and wherein the first elastic subcomponent ( 18 ) and the second elastic subcomponent ( 20 ) are manufactured from a reversibly elastic plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The exterior trim according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shape-retaining trim element ( 46 ) which is adjustable between a folded-in position in which the shape-retaining trim element ( 46 ) forms a part of the exterior trim and a folded-out position in which the exterior trim part ( 10 ) at least substantially solely forms the exterior trim of a side sill ( 44 ). 
     
     
         5 . The exterior trim according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating element ( 34 ), wherein the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ) is adjustable between the first position (A) and the second position (W) via the actuating element ( 34 ) and wherein the actuating element ( 34 ) is disposed on an interior side of the exterior trim part ( 10 ) that faces away from an outside ( 22 ) of the exterior trim part ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The exterior trim according to  claim 5 , further comprising a decorative element ( 42 ) disposed on the outside ( 22 ) of the exterior trim part ( 10 ) and in a region of the actuating element ( 34 ). 
     
     
         7 . The exterior trim according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior trim is formed as a longitudinal sill trim of a side sill ( 28 ,  44 ) of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A method for adjusting the exterior trim for a motor vehicle according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 when adjusting the central shape-retaining subcomponent ( 14 ) from the first position (A) into the second position (W), the first trim surface ( 26 ) and the second trim surface ( 26 ) is reversibly changed by applying a force.